Mercury Tops California Department Of Insurance List With The Fewest Number Of Customer Complaints

Mercury's three companies - Mercury Casualty Company, California Auto Insurance Company and Mercury Insurance Company - all place in the top eight

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Mercury Insurance

Oct 24, 2012, 06:06 ET

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercury ranks number one according to the recently-released California Department of Insurance (CDI) auto insurance consumer complaint study. The study ranked the 50 largest automobile insurers conducting business in the Golden State, and Mercury Casualty Company (MCC) and California Automobile Insurance Company (CAIC) finished first and second, respectively. Not far behind was the other Mercury subsidiary, Mercury Insurance Company (MIC), which finished eighth.

"Mercury provides millions of Californians with affordable insurance and exceptional customer service," said Mercury CEO Gabe Tirador. "The California Department of Insurance study validates our blueprint of service through trust, honesty and customer advocacy, and reinforces why we're able to have a customer retention rate of 96 percent."

MCC and CAIC each received zero justified complaints. MIC received a 0.8 ratio (based on the number of valid complaints per 100,000 policies or per $1 million in premium) with only 12 justified complaints out of more than 1.5 million policies. The CDI, which reviewed consumer grievances for excessive rates, false advertising, claim delays and denial of claims, created the study "to assist insurance consumers as they shop for insurance."

"We want all of our customers to know we'll be here to help when they need us most," said Mercury Chief Claims Officer Joanna Moore. "Studies like this show that Mercury cares about its customers. I'm proud of our team and their ability to put our customers first."

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury (NYSE: MCY) primarily provides auto and homeowners insurance through a network of 6,700 independent agents in 13 states. Mercury was also named one of "America's Most Trustworthy Companies" by Forbes Magazine this year; the fourth time the company has received this award.

To view the entire list, please visit the California Department of Insurance website.

ABOUT MERCURY INSURANCE (www.mercuryinsurance.com)

Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization offering predominantly personal automobile and homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents in California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices – core values that distinguish Mercury in the marketplace.